Dynamically recommending changes to an association between an operating system image and an update group

ABSTRACT

Dynamically recommending changes to an association between an operating system image and an update group includes monitoring a configuration of a deployed copy of a first master operating system (OS) image; detecting a modification in the configuration of the deployed copy; determining that the configuration of the deployed copy with the modification more closely matches a configuration of a second master OS image than a configuration of the first master OS image; in response to determining that the configuration of the deployed copy with the modification more closely matches the configuration of the second master OS image, generating an association recommendation that recommends associating the deployed copy with a second update group of the second master OS image; and associating the deployed copy with the second update group of the second master OS image instead of the first update group of the first master OS image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims priorityfrom U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/653,090, filed on Oct. 16,2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically,methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for dynamicallyrecommending changes to an association between an operating system imageand an update group.

2. Description of Related Art

In modern data centers, system administrators often maintain acollection of master operating system (OS) images that are reserved fordeployment unto new systems as these systems become operational. Amaster OS image is a boot device image that includes a representation ofa computer program and its related data such as a kernel, file system,configuration, and libraries at a particular given point in time.Deploying copies of a single master OS image is sometimes an efficientway to get multiple systems operational quickly. If a user of thedeployed copy has to spend time changing the configuration of thedeployed copy, however, the usefulness and efficiency of deployment fromthe master OS image is diminished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Dynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group includes monitoring a configuration ofa deployed copy of a first master operating system (OS) image, thedeployed copy associated with a first update group of the first masterOS image; detecting a modification in the configuration of the deployedcopy; determining that the configuration of the deployed copy with themodification more closely matches a configuration of a second master OSimage than a configuration of the first master OS image; in response todetermining that the configuration of the deployed copy with themodification more closely matches the configuration of the second masterOS image, generating an association recommendation that recommendsassociating the deployed copy with a second update group of the secondmaster OS image; and associating based on the association recommendationthe deployed copy with the second update group of the second master OSimage instead of the first update group of the first master OS image.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescriptions of exemplary embodiments of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generallyrepresent like parts of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram of automated computing machinerycomprising an exemplary management server useful in dynamicallyrecommending changes to an association between an operating system imageand an update group according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 sets forth a block diagram of a system comprising another examplemanagement server useful in dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update groupaccording to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart illustrating another exemplary method fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustrating another exemplary method fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart illustrating another exemplary method fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and computer program products fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group in accordance with the presentinvention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings,beginning with FIG. 1. Dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update group inaccordance with the present invention is generally implemented withcomputers, that is, with automated computing machinery. For furtherexplanation, therefore, FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram of automatedcomputing machinery comprising an exemplary management server (152)useful in dynamically recommending changes to an association between anoperating system image and an update group according to embodiments ofthe present invention. The management server (152) of FIG. 1 includes atleast one computer processor (156) or ‘CPU’ as well as random accessmemory (168) (‘RAM’), which is connected through a high speed memory bus(166) and bus adapter (158) to processor (156) and to other componentsof the management server (152).

Stored in RAM (168) is an image deployment monitor (199) that includescomputer program instructions for dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update groupaccording to embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, theimage deployment monitor (199) includes computer program instructionsthat when executed by the computer processor (156) cause the imagedeployment monitor (199) to carry out the step of monitoring aconfiguration of a deployed copy of a master operating system (OS)image. A configuration of an operating system image is a representationof the one or more settings, properties, or characteristics associatedwith the operating system image. For example, a configuration of aparticular operating system (OS) image may indicate a version of anoperation system included in the OS image; a listing of softwareincluded in the OS image; and versions of firmware or drivers associatedwith the OS image.

An image deployment monitor may be configured to monitor any number ofdeployed copies of any number of master OS images. In the example ofFIG. 1, the image deployment monitor (199) is configured to monitor afirst deployed copy (191) deployed from a first master OS image (194)and a second deployed copy (192) deployed from a second master OS image(193). Each deployed copy (191, 192) is stored on a client system (182)that is coupled to the management server (152) for monitoring by theimage deployment monitor (199).

The image deployment monitor (199) may also be configured to associateeach deployed copy with a particular update group. An update group is acollection of indications of deployed images. As updates for aparticular master OS image become available, the image deploymentmonitor may transmit the update to the deployed copies associated withthe update group of the particular master OS image.

The image deployment monitor (199) also includes computer programinstructions that when executed by the computer processor (156) causethe image deployment monitor (199) to carry out the steps of detecting amodification in the configuration of the deployed copy; determining thatthe configuration of the deployed copy with the modification moreclosely matches a configuration of a second master OS image than aconfiguration of the first master OS image; in response to determiningthat the configuration of the deployed copy with the modification moreclosely matches the configuration of the second master OS image,generating an association recommendation that recommends associating thedeployed copy with a second update group of the second master OS image;and associating based on the association recommendation the deployedcopy with the second update group of the second master OS image insteadof the first update group of the first master OS image.

For example, upon deployment, the first deployed copy (191) may be anexact copy of the first master OS image (194) and therefore is initiallyassociated with an update group (195) of the first master OS image(194). After deployment, a user of the first deployed copy (191) maychange the configuration of the first deployed copy (194) such that thechanged configuration of the first deployed copy (191) more closelymatches the configuration of the second master OS image (193). If thechanged configuration of the first deployed copy (191) more closelymatches the configuration of the second master OS image (193), accordingto embodiments of the present invention, the image deployment monitor(199) may recommend and change the association of the first deployedcopy (191) to an update group of the second master OS image (193). Forexample when an update is available for the second master OS image(193), the image deployment monitor (199) may provide the update to thedeployed copies associated the update group of the second master OSimage (193), such as the first deployed copy (191) and the seconddeployed copy (192).

By changing an association between a deployed OS image and an updategroup, the image deployment monitor may keep deployed OS images updatedwith changes that are the most relevant to their configurations. Keepingupdates relevant and closely aligned with a configuration of a deployedcopy may help prevent configuration conflicts and failures betweensoftware modules, such as firmware, drivers, kernels, and applicationson the deployed copy. Reducing software conflicts and failures mayimprove efficiency of a deployed copy and a user of the deployed copy.

Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systemsuseful dynamically recommending changes to an association between anoperating system image and an update group according to embodiments ofthe present invention include UNIX™ Linux™ Microsoft XP™ AIX™ IBM'si5/OS™ and others as will occur to those of skill in the art. Theoperating system (154) and the image deployment monitor (199) in theexample of FIG. 1 are shown in RAM (168), but many components of suchsoftware typically are stored in non-volatile memory also, such as, forexample, on a disk drive (170).

The management server (152) of FIG. 1 includes disk drive adapter (172)coupled through expansion bus (160) and bus adapter (158) to processor(156) and other components of the management server (152). Disk driveadapter (172) connects non-volatile data storage to the managementserver (152) in the form of disk drive (170). Disk drive adapters usefulin computers for dynamically recommending changes to an associationbetween an operating system image and an update group according toembodiments of the present invention include Integrated DriveElectronics (‘IDE’) adapters, Small Computer System Interface (‘SCSI’)adapters, and others as will occur to those of skill in the art.Non-volatile computer memory also may be implemented for as an opticaldisk drive, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory(so-called ‘EEPROM’ or ‘Flash’ memory), RAM drives, and so on, as willoccur to those of skill in the art.

The example management server (152) of FIG. 1 includes one or moreinput/output (‘I/O’) adapters (178). I/O adapters implementuser-oriented input/output through, for example, software drivers andcomputer hardware for controlling output to display devices such ascomputer display screens, as well as user input from user input devices(181) such as keyboards and mice. The example management server (152) ofFIG. 1 includes a video adapter (183), which is an example of an I/Oadapter specially designed for graphic output to a display device (180)such as a display screen or computer monitor. Video adapter (183) isconnected to processor (156) through a high speed video bus (164), busadapter (158), and the front side bus (162), which is also a high speedbus.

The exemplary management server (152) of FIG. 1 includes acommunications adapter (167) for data communications with the repository(189) and other computers, such as client computers (182) via a datacommunications network (100). Such data communications may be carriedout serially through RS-232 connections, through external buses such asa Universal Serial Bus (‘USB’), through data communications networkssuch as IP data communications networks, and in other ways as will occurto those of skill in the art. Communications adapters implement thehardware level of data communications through which one computer sendsdata communications to another computer, directly or through a datacommunications network. Examples of communications adapters useful fordynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention include modems for wired dial-up communications, Ethernet(IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired data communications networkcommunications, and 802.11 adapters for wireless data communicationsnetwork communications.

For further explanation, therefore, FIG. 2 sets forth a block diagram ofa system comprising another example management server useful indynamically recommending changes to an association between an operatingsystem image and an update group according to embodiments of the presentinvention.

The system of FIG. 2 includes a management server (252) with an imagedeployment monitor (299) configured to monitor deployed copies of masterOS images that are stored in a master OS image repository (289). In theexample of FIG. 2, the image deployment monitor (299) monitors a firstdeployed copy (250) deployed from a first master OS image (290) and ontoa first client system (240); a second deployed copy (252) deployed fromthe first master OS image (290) and onto a second client system (242),and a third deployed copy (254) deployed from a second master OS image(292) and onto a third client system (244). In the example of FIG. 2,only three deployed copies of two master OS images are illustrated butthe image deployment monitor (299) may be configured to monitor anynumber of deployed copies of any number of master OS images.

As part of monitoring concurrently deployed copies, the image deploymentmonitor (299) may receive configuration data. Configuration data is dataindicating changes that a user makes to a configuration of a deployedcopy after a copy is deployed on a client system. Configuration dataindicates changes to settings, properties, or characteristics of adeployed copy. Examples of configuration data include but are notlimited to changes to an operating system level, child software stack,virtual hardware characteristics, and others as will occur to those ofskill in the art.

In a particular embodiment, a monitoring agent may be installed at aclient system to collect configuration data and transmit the collectedconfiguration data to an image deployment monitor. A monitoring agentmay be a software application that inspects the configuration of adeployed copy to detect changes to the default configuration of thedeployed copy, such as updates to a kernel, changes to a software stack,and so on, and transmit these changes as configuration data. That is,the monitoring agent is configured to track the changes made by a userto a configuration after a copy of the master OS image is deployed ontoa client system.

The image deployment monitor (299) may also be configured to associateeach deployed copy with a particular update group. An update group is acollection of indications of deployed images. As updates for aparticular master OS image become available, the image deploymentmonitor may transmit the update to the deployed copies associated withthe update group of the particular master OS image. An update is a pieceof software designed to fix a problem or update a computer program andits supporting data. This may include fixing security vulnerabilities,and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance. As used inthis application, an update for a master OS image may include an updatefor any software module associated with the master OS image. Forexample, a particular application included with the operating system ofa deployed copy may be updated by the developer of the application.

The image deployment monitor (299) may also be configured to detect amodification in the configuration of a deployed copy of a first masterOS image and determine that the configuration of the deployed copy withthe modification more closely matches a configuration of a second masterOS image than a configuration of the first master OS image. The imagedeployment monitor (299) may also be configured to generate, in responseto determining that the configuration of the deployed copy with themodification more closely matches the configuration of the second masterOS image, an association recommendation that recommends associating thedeployed copy with a second update group of the second master OS image;and associate based on the association recommendation the deployed copywith the second update group of the second master OS image instead ofthe first update group of the first master OS image.

For example, upon deployment, the first deployed copy (250) and thesecond deployed copy (252) may each be copies of the first master OSimage (290) and therefore are initially associated with an update groupof the first master OS image (290). Continuing with this example, thethird deployed copy (254) may be an a copy of the second master OS image(292). That is, upon deployment, a configuration (280) of the firstdeployed copy (250), a configuration (282) of the second deployed copy(252), and a configuration (286) of the first master OS image (290) mayindicate similar settings, characteristics, or properties, such as aversion of an operating system, a version of a firmware or driver, or alisting of other software modules.

After deployment, a user of the second deployed copy (252) may changethe configuration (282) of the second deployed copy (252) such that thechanged configuration (282) of the second deployed copy (252) moreclosely matches the configuration (288) of the second master OS image(292). In this example, the second client system (242) may transmitconfiguration data (236) indicating changes to the configuration (282)of the second deployed copy (252). If the changed configuration (282) ofthe second deployed copy (252) more closely matches the configuration(288) of the second master OS image (292), according to embodiments ofthe present invention, the image deployment monitor (299) may recommendand change the association of the second deployed copy (252) to anupdate group of the second master OS image (292). For example when afirst update (230) is available for the first master OS image (290), theimage deployment monitor (299) may transmit the first update (230) tothe deployed copies in the first update group of the first master OSimage (290), such as the first deployed copy (250). In this example,because the association of the second deployed copy (252) was changedfrom the first update group of the first master OS image (290) to theupdate group of the second master OS image (292), the image deploymentmonitor (299) would not transmit the first update (230) to the seconddeployed copy (252).

Continuing with this example, when a second update (232) is availablefor the second master OS image (292), the image deployment monitor (299)may transmit the second update (232) to the deployed copies in thesecond update group of the second master OS image (292), such as thesecond deployed copy (252) and the third deployed copy (254). In thisexample, because the association of the second deployed copy (252) waschanged from the first update group of the first master OS image (290)to the update group of the second master OS image (292), the imagedeployment monitor (299) would transmit the second update (232) to thesecond deployed copy (252).

In the example of FIG. 2, each OS image includes an adjustment modulefor implementing the updates received from the management server (252).For example, the first deployed copy (250) includes a first adjustmentmodule (270), the second deployed copy (252) includes a secondadjustment module (272), the third deployed copy includes a thirdadjustment module (274), the first master OS image (290) includes afirst master adjustment module (276), and the second maser OS image(292) includes a second master adjustment module (288).

For further explanation, FIG. 3 sets forth a flow chart illustrating anexemplary method for dynamically recommending changes to an associationbetween an operating system image and an update group according toembodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 3 includesmonitoring (302), by an image deployment monitor (301), a configuration(350) of a deployed copy (382) of a first master operating system (OS)image (384). Monitoring (302) a configuration (350) of a deployed copy(382) of a first master operating system (OS) image (384) may be carriedout by installing a monitoring agent on each deployed copy and receivingconfiguration data from each monitoring agent. A monitoring agent may beconfigured to monitor data metrics associated with the deployed copy,such as specific applications installed on a system and preferencesrelated to those applications and transmit those changes asconfiguration data. Configuration data is data indicating changes madeto a configuration after a copy is deployed on a client system. Anexample of configuration data includes indications of updates to akernel, child software stack, virtual hardware characteristics, andothers as will occur to those of skill in the art. Configuration datamay be transmitted from a deployed copy to an image deployment monitorin response to specific events, such as when a client system boots orwhen new software is added to a configuration of a deployed copy.Configuration data may also be retrieved according to a set timeschedule. In either case, an image deployment monitor may act as amanagement hub for collecting, reporting, and acting on the data metricsgathered by the monitoring agents.

The image deployment monitor may associate a deployed copy with anupdate group of a master OS image. An update group is a collection ofindications of deployed images. As updates for a particular master OSimage become available, the image deployment monitor may transmit theupdate to the deployed copies associated with the update group of theparticular master OS image. Upon deployment, a deployed copy may be anexact copy of a particular master OS image and is therefore associatedwith an update group of the particular master OS image. Afterdeployment, a user of the deployed copy may change the configuration ofthe deployed copy such that the changed configuration of the deployedcopy more closely matches the configuration of another master OS image.If the changed configuration of the deployed copy more closely matchesthe configuration of the other master OS image, according to embodimentsof the present invention, the image deployment monitor may change theassociation of the deployed copy to another update group of anothermaster OS image. In the example of FIG. 3, the deployed copy (382) mayinitially be associated with a first update group (360) of the firstmaster OS image (384).

The method of FIG. 3 also includes detecting (304), by the imagedeployment monitor (301), a modification (352) in the configuration(350) of the deployed copy (382). Detecting (304) a modification (352)in the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382) may be carried outby examining configuration data received from each of the monitoreddeployed copies to identify configuration changes.

The method of FIG. 3 also includes determining (306), by the imagedeployment monitor (301), that the configuration (350) of the deployedcopy (382) with the modification (352) more closely matches aconfiguration (388) of a second master OS image (387) than aconfiguration (386) of the first master OS image (384). Determining(306) that the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382) with themodification (352) more closely matches a configuration (388) of asecond master OS image (387) than a configuration (386) of the firstmaster OS image (384) may be carried out by comparing one or morecharacteristics of the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382)with one or more characteristics of the configurations (386, 388) of themaster OS images (384, 387). For example, the image deployment monitor(299) may examine one or more of the following: version of operatingsystem of the deployed copy, version of firmware on the deployed copy;and other listings of versions of software modules associated with thedeployed copies.

The method of FIG. 3 also includes in response to determining that theconfiguration (350) of the deployed copy (382) with the modification(352) more closely matches the configuration (388) of the second masterOS image (387), generating (308), by the image deployment monitor (301),an association recommendation (332) that recommends associating thedeployed copy (382) with a second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387). Generating (308), by the image deployment monitor(301), an association recommendation (332) that recommends associatingthe deployed copy (382) with a second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387) may be carried out by generating a message orstoring an internal value indicating that a deployed copy has one ormore characteristics more in common with another master OS image.

The method of FIG. 3 also includes associating (310) based on theassociation recommendation (332), by the image deployment monitor (301),the deployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387) instead of the first update group (360) of thefirst master OS image (384). Associating (310) based on the associationrecommendation (332), the deployed copy (382) with the second updategroup (362) of the second master OS image (387) instead of the firstupdate group (360) of the first master OS image (384) may be carried outby storing an indication of the deployed copy on a list with otherdeployed copies that are associated with the second master OS image anddeleting the indication of the deployed copy from a list containingindication of deployed copies associated with the first master OS image.

For further explanation, FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart illustratinganother exemplary method for dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update groupaccording to embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 4is similar to the method of FIG. 3 in that the method of FIG. 4 alsoincludes: monitoring (302) a configuration (350) of a deployed copy(382) of a first master operating system (OS) image (384); detecting(304) a modification (352) in the configuration (350) of the deployedcopy (382); determining (306) that the configuration (350) of thedeployed copy (382) with the modification (352) more closely matches aconfiguration (388) of a second master OS image (387) than aconfiguration of the first master OS image (384); in response todetermining that the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382) withthe modification (352) more closely matches the configuration (388) ofthe second master OS image (387), generating (308) an associationrecommendation (332) that recommends associating the deployed copy (382)with a second update group (362) of the second master OS image (387);and associating (310) based on the association recommendation (332), thedeployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387) instead of the first update group (360) of thefirst master OS image (384).

In the method of FIG. 4, however, associating (310) based on theassociation recommendation (332), the deployed copy (382) with thesecond update group (362) of the second master OS image (387) instead ofthe first update group (360) of the first master OS image (384) includesproviding (402) the association recommendation (332) to a user (101) forapproval. Providing (402) the association recommendation (332) to a user(101) for approval may be carried out by presenting a user with anoption to change the association of a deployed copy from one master OSimage to another master OS image.

In the method of FIG. 4, however, associating (310) based on theassociation recommendation (332), the deployed copy (382) with thesecond update group (362) of the second master OS image (387) instead ofthe first update group (360) of the first master OS image (384) alsoincludes receiving (404) from the user (101), user input (460)indicating approval to associate the deployed copy (382) with the secondupdate group (362). Receiving (404) from the user (101), user input(460) indicating approval to associate the deployed copy (382) with thesecond update group (362) may be carried out by receiving an indicationthat the user approves of the change in association.

In the method of FIG. 4, however, associating (310) based on theassociation recommendation (332), the deployed copy (382) with thesecond update group (362) of the second master OS image (387) instead ofthe first update group (360) of the first master OS image (384) alsoincludes in response to receiving the user input (460), associating(406) the deployed copy (382) with the second update group (362).Associating (406) the deployed copy (382) with the second update group(362) in response to receiving the user input (460) may be carried outby storing an indication of the deployed copy on a list with otherdeployed copies that are associated with the second master OS image; anddeleting the indication of the deployed copy from a list containingindication of deployed copies associated with the first master OS image.

For further explanation, FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustratinganother exemplary method for dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update groupaccording to embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 5is similar to the method of FIG. 3 in that the method of FIG. 5 alsoincludes: monitoring (302) a configuration (350) of a deployed copy(382) of a first master operating system (OS) image (384); detecting(304) a modification (352) in the configuration (350) of the deployedcopy (382); determining (306) that the configuration (350) of thedeployed copy (382) with the modification (352) more closely matches aconfiguration (388) of a second master OS image (387) than aconfiguration of the first master OS image (384); in response todetermining that the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382) withthe modification (352) more closely matches the configuration (388) ofthe second master OS image (387), generating (308) an associationrecommendation (332) that recommends associating the deployed copy (382)with a second update group (362) of the second master OS image (387);and associating (310) based on the association recommendation (332), thedeployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387) instead of the first update group (360) of thefirst master OS image (384).

In the method of FIG. 5, however, associating (310) based on theassociation recommendation (332), the deployed copy (382) with thesecond update group (362) of the second master OS image (387) instead ofthe first update group (360) of the first master OS image (384) includesautomatically associating (502) based on the association recommendation(332), the deployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) inresponse to generating the associating recommendation (332).Automatically associating (502) based on the association recommendation(332), the deployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) inresponse to generating the associating recommendation (332) may becarried out by storing an indication of the deployed copy on a list withother deployed copies that are associated with the second master OSimage; and deleting the indication of the deployed copy from a listcontaining indication of deployed copies associated with the firstmaster OS image.

For further explanation, FIG. 6 sets forth a flow chart illustratinganother exemplary method for dynamically recommending changes to anassociation between an operating system image and an update groupaccording to embodiments of the present invention. The method of FIG. 6is similar to the method of FIG. 3 in that the method of FIG. 6 alsoincludes: monitoring (302) a configuration (350) of a deployed copy(382) of a first master operating system (OS) image (384); detecting(304) a modification (352) in the configuration (350) of the deployedcopy (382); determining (306) that the configuration (350) of thedeployed copy (382) with the modification (352) more closely matches aconfiguration (388) of a second master OS image (387) than aconfiguration of the first master OS image (384); in response todetermining that the configuration (350) of the deployed copy (382) withthe modification (352) more closely matches the configuration (388) ofthe second master OS image (387), generating (308) an associationrecommendation (332) that recommends associating the deployed copy (382)with a second update group (362) of the second master OS image (387);and associating (310) based on the association recommendation (332), thedeployed copy (382) with the second update group (362) of the secondmaster OS image (387) instead of the first update group (360) of thefirst master OS image (384).

In the method of FIG. 6, however, monitoring (302) a configuration (350)of a deployed copy (382) of a first master operating system (OS) image(384) includes receiving (602) from the deployed copy (382),configuration data (650) associated with the deployed copy (382). In theexample of FIG. 6, the modification in the configuration of the deployedcopy is detected based on the configuration data.

Receiving (602) from the deployed copy (382), configuration data (650)associated with the deployed copy (382) may be carried out by receivingmessages from one or more monitoring agents monitoring the deployedcopy.

The method of FIG. 6 also includes identifying (604), by the imagedeployment monitor (301), an update (652) corresponding to the secondmaster OS image (387). Identifying (604), by the image deploymentmonitor (301), an update (652) corresponding to the second master OSimage (387) may be carried out by determining that there is one or morekernel, driver, or software updates available to deployed copies of aparticular master OS image.

The method of FIG. 6 also includes transmitting (606), by the imagedeployment monitor (301), the update (652) to OS images (691) associatedwith the second update group (362) of the second master OS image (387)including the deployed copy (382). Transmitting (606) the update (652)to OS images (691) associated with the second update group (362) of thesecond master OS image (387) including the deployed copy (382) may becarried out by using direct or indirect communication to communicate;identifying which deployed copies have not implemented the change; andsending the configuration recommendation to those deployed copies.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described largely inthe context of a fully functional computer system for dynamicallyrecommending changes to an association between an operating system imageand an update group. Readers of skill in the art will recognize,however, that the present invention also may be embodied in a computerprogram product disposed upon computer readable storage media for usewith any suitable data processing system. Such computer readable storagemedia may be any storage medium for machine-readable information,including magnetic media, optical media, or other suitable media.Examples of such media include magnetic disks in hard drives ordiskettes, compact disks for optical drives, magnetic tape, and othersas will occur to those of skill in the art. Persons skilled in the artwill immediately recognize that any computer system having suitableprogramming means will be capable of executing the steps of the methodof the invention as embodied in a computer program product. Personsskilled in the art will recognize also that, although some of theexemplary embodiments described in this specification are oriented tosoftware installed and executing on computer hardware, nevertheless,alternative embodiments implemented as firmware or as hardware are wellwithin the scope of the present invention.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that modificationsand changes may be made in various embodiments of the present inventionwithout departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in thisspecification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to beconstrued in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention islimited only by the language of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method of dynamicallyrecommending changes to an association between an operating system imageand an update group, the method comprising: monitoring, by an imagedeployment monitor, a configuration of a deployed copy of a first masteroperating system (OS) image, the deployed copy associated with a firstupdate group of the first master OS image; detecting, by the imagedeployment monitor, a modification in the configuration of the deployedcopy; determining, by the image deployment monitor, that theconfiguration of the deployed copy with the modification more closelymatches a configuration of a second master OS image than a configurationof the first master OS image; in response to determining that theconfiguration of the deployed copy with the modification more closelymatches the configuration of the second master OS image, generating, bythe image deployment monitor, an association recommendation thatrecommends associating the deployed copy with a second update group ofthe second master OS image; and associating based on the associationrecommendation, by the image deployment monitor, the deployed copy withthe second update group of the second master OS image instead of thefirst update group of the first master OS image.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein associating based on the association recommendation, thedeployed copy with the second update group of the second master OS imageincludes: providing the association recommendation to a user forapproval; receiving from the user, user input indicating approval toassociate the deployed copy with the second update group; and inresponse to receiving the user input, associating the deployed copy withthe second update group.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein associatingbased on the association recommendation, the deployed copy with thesecond update group of the second master OS image includes automaticallyassociating based on the association recommendation, the deployed copywith the second update group in response to generating the associatingrecommendation.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:identifying, by the image deployment monitor, an update corresponding tothe second master OS image; and transmitting, by the image deploymentmonitor, the update to OS images associated with the second update groupof the second master OS image including the deployed copy.
 5. The methodof claim 1 wherein monitoring, by an image deployment monitor, aconfiguration of a deployed copy includes receiving from the deployedcopy, configuration data associated with the deployed copy; wherein themodification in the configuration of the deployed copy is detected basedon the configuration data.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein theconfiguration data is transmitted to the image deployment monitor by thedeployed copy in response to at least one of installation of a softwaremodule on the deployed copy and booting of a system upon which thedeployed copy is deployed.